Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr., who previously won the MVP award, exited Tuesday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds due to an apparent injury. During the third inning, Acuna fouled a ball off his left leg. He immediately collapsed and crawled towards the grass near the first base line. There, he spent over a minute discussing with the team’s trainer and manager Walt Weiss. Eventually, Acuna stood up and managed to leave the field under his own power. Brewer Hicklen replaced him as the outfielder.
The timing of Acuna’s injury is unfortunate. The Braves are currently competing for a first-round bye in the postseason. If Acuna faces an extended absence, the team might have to contend in the Wild Card round without their former MVP. Concerns arise from Acuna’s injury-prone tendencies, as he has already suffered from two leg injuries this season. He also missed time last year due to Achilles inflammation following a lengthy recovery from a knee injury.
Acuna plays an essential role for the Braves, even in the challenging 2026 season, and the team hopes his injury is not severe.
How Has Ronald Acuna Performed This Year?
Acuna started the year slowly but has maintained respectable statistics with the season nearing its conclusion. He has hit 20 home runs, driven in 55 runs, and achieved a .814 OPS over 104 games. This marks his most active season since his impressive 40/70 season in 2023.
Though his .814 OPS is below last year’s .934, he has rebounded well after a sluggish March and April. By May, his performance saw a significant improvement, boasting a 1.056 OPS after recovering from a hamstring strain that landed him on the IL at the beginning of the month. Despite struggling in the following months, Acuna regained momentum in September, hitting seven home runs and driving in 19 runs with a 1.087 OPS.
The Braves are relying heavily on Acuna for their postseason campaign and hope his injury proves not to be serious as they gear up for a Wild Card series against formidable opponents.
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